Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Ryan Phillips

Rafael Devers's Disastrous Start Continued With Three-Strikeout Game vs. Orioles

Rafael Devers struck out 15 times in his first 19 at-bats of the 2025 MLB season. | Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Rafael Devers is surely not having the start to the season he envisioned.

On opening weekend, Devers was brutal for the Boston Red Sox. In four games against the Texas Rangers, the three-time All-Star designated hitter provided virtually nothing to his team. He didn't improve things in the season's fifth game.

Entering Monday's matchup with the Baltimore Orioles, Devers had six at-bats this season and had registered no hits, one RBI, two walks, and an incredible 12 strikeouts. He also became the first player in MLB history to strike out 10 times in the first three games of a season.

During Monday's matchup, Devers was similarly inept. He opened the game 0-for-3 with three strikeouts, though he did manage a pair of walks. He's now up to 15 strikeouts in 19 at-bats on the season.

It's been brutal to watch. Devers has a lifetime slash line of .278/.344.508, and hit .272 with 28 home runs, 83 RBIs and an OPS of .871 in 2024, so this is a start no one saw coming.

Here's where I tell you that it's early and everyone slumps, but what Devers has done this season has been mind-boggling.

With an 8–5 loss to the Orioles on Monday, the Red Sox have fallen to 1–4 on the season.


More MLB on Sports Illustrated


This article was originally published on www.si.com as Rafael Devers's Disastrous Start Continued With Three-Strikeout Game vs. Orioles.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.